RAC Hidden charge of £168 for burst tyre

dyinglittlebasket

We recently hit a curb when turning into a supermarket car park which burst the tyre. The curb was all smashed up and we weren't the first to hit it.

We called the RAC and were charged £168 for a call-out despite being a member. They consider this kind of incident an accident.

"As a member of RAC, you have access to our breakdown service. However, in this case, the damage to the alloy wheel was deemed an accident and not a mechanical breakdown. This is why the service provided by our Patrol was not covered by your membership."

I will be avoiding the RAC in the future.

cw8825

It’s not hidden
its in plain site. 

You have not had a breakdown so it’s chargeable. 

You can’t contest that there is a charge but maybe the amount. 

If it had burst due to a failure it would be covered

mr_stripey

hitting a kerb and damaging your car is not a breakdown..

dunstonh

We called the RAC and were charged £168 for a call-out despite being a member. They consider this kind of incident an accident.

It is an accident.  You drove into an object and damaged your car.

DullGreyGuy

In most cases people that have an accident and need to call someone out to the scene it will go on to be a claim on their Motor insurance which will generally refund also the cost of recovery. 

RAC are not unique in charging for attending an accident, most do because there is no need for them to absorb the cost of recovery when the Motor insurer will.